The annual average size of the labour force in Tasmania continued to grow steadily over the years 2002-03 to 2005-06, but decreased again slightly in 2006-07 to 238,000. The participation rate slowed from 60.9% in 2005-06 to 60.3% in 2006-07.

LABOUR FORCE, Tasmania

PARTICIPATION RATE, Tasmania

The number of people employed continued to grow, but increased by only 0.8% from 2005-06 to 2006-07. The number of people in full-time work also continued to increase, reaching 154,100 in 2006-07.

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS, Tasmania

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, Tasmania

Tasmania's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to an historically low level of 4.3% in May 2007. The Australian unemployment rate reached 4.3% at the same time. This was the lowest level of unemployment recorded for Tasmania since the current series began in 1978.

AVERAGE WEEKLY TOTAL EARNINGS, Full-time adults: trend

In May 2007,the average weekly total earnings figure for all employed Tasmanians was $1,050.50, an increase of 7.8% on the May 2006 figure. In the same period, the average weekly total earnings figure for full-time employed Tasmanian males was $1,107.40, and for females was $942.70. The Australian figure for all full-time employedadults was $1,134.30 in May 2007.

LABOUR , Summary table, Tasmania(a)(b)

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

LABOUR FORCE

Total labour force ('000)

220.2

225.5

230.2

238.4

238.0

Employed full-time ('000)

139.2

146.0

148.0

151.1

154.1

Employed part-time ('000)

62.0

64.2

67.9

71.6

70.4

Unemployment rate

8.6%

6.8%

6.2%

6.6%

5.7%

Long term unemployment rate

2.0%

2.0%

1.6%

2.1%

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Participation rate

58.3%

58.9%

59.3%

60.9%

60.3%

Labour force underutilisation rate - persons

13.5%

13.4%

13.4%

13.4%

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Extended labour force underutilisation rate - persons

15.4%

14.3%

14.9%

14.7%

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Employment growth - annual change

1.6%

4.5%

2.7%

3.2%

0.8%

Job vacancies ('000)

2.0

1.7

1.9

2.4

2.3

WORKING HOURS - ALL EMPLOYEES

Average actual hours worked per week, full-time (hrs)

37.6

38.2

38.0

36.2

36.5

Average actual hours worked per week, part-time (hrs)

13.7

15.0

15.1

14.7

14.5

OCCUPATION AND INDUSTRY

Employed in higher skilled occupations(c)('000)

103.5

108.3

114.5

116.5

121.5

Employed in service industries ('000)

155.1

155.8

154.9

157.5

157.7

Employed in manufacturing industries ('000)

22.1

22.4

23.4

22.8

21.9

AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS(d) & WAGE PRICE INDEX

Full-time adult ordinary time earnings, trend

$830.40

$853.80

$892.80

$937.50

$1 009.30

Full-time adult total earnings, trend

$861.50

$888.20

$930.10

$974.30

$1 050.50

Wage Price Index - all sectors index number

96.8

100.0

104.1

108.4

113.1

Wage Price Index - all sectors percentage change

3.3%

3.3%

4.1%

4.1%

4.3%

nya not yet available(a) Persons aged 15 years and over.
(b) Data are annual averages calculated on monthly original estimates, unless otherwise specified.(c) Includes ASCO skill levels 1-3, which equate to ASCO major groups 1-5. For further information, refer to Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (cat.no. 1220.0).(d) Estimates of average weekly earnings are trend data as published for May each year.